What’s the best way to ensure that both rails are shaped exactly alike and to get all the transitions in the the same places? Is there some special method I’m missing, or is it just by eye and counting strokes? Thanks for any advice.
What’s the best way to ensure that both rails are shaped exactly alike and > to get all the transitions in the the same places? Is there some special > method I’m missing, or is it just by eye and counting strokes? Thanks for > any advice. … Proper lighting is a key factor.If you can see it,… you can’t shape it.Remember surfboards are hand made,and very few are perfect.You can measure/mark out where your bands will blend.Feel up,and down the rails for consistancy. Use a dark fine rope/line(3-4 feet long),and weigh it at both ends(fishing weights work great). You can drape it over the board from rail to rail to check eveness.Go with what works for you.
Check, the marking rails when shaping, on this site, work from line to line then use sandpaper to finish (looooooong stokes always). Good luck. Peter Rijk.>>> What’s the best way to ensure that both rails are shaped exactly alike and > to get all the transitions in the the same places? Is there some special > method I’m missing, or is it just by eye and counting strokes? Thanks for > any advice.
Check, the marking rails when shaping, on this site, work from line to > line then use sandpaper to finish (looooooong stokes always). Good luck.>>> Peter, I read your response on the “marking rails” post, but I didn’t quite understand what you meant by making a “90-degree hook…where the marker goes thru.” First of all, what do you use as this “marker” and how do you use it? Next, can you clarify how you make this “90-degree hook”? When I think of a hook, I don’t imagine it being 90 degrees. I guess that’s the hard part with communicating by typing words…there are no pictures. I think I understand the concept of following some kind of dotted line with the planer, but I’m just not sure how to make that line. Thanks to everyone for the help.
That helps!
I read your response on the “marking rails” post, but I didn’t > quite understand what you meant by making a “90-degree hook…where > the marker goes thru.” First of all, what do you use as this > “marker” and how do you use it? Next, can you clarify how you > make this “90-degree hook”? When I think of a hook, I don’t > imagine it being 90 degrees. I guess that’s the hard part with > communicating by typing words…there are no pictures.>>> I think I understand the concept of following some kind of dotted line > with the planer, but I’m just not sure how to make that line. Thanks to > everyone for the help. Hey Deeb, Have you seen Shaping 101? It has a good segment on shaping rails. Also Herb’s trick with the string sound’s really handy. Scott
Hey Deeb, Have you seen Shaping 101? It has a good segment on shaping > rails. Also Herb’s trick with the string sound’s really handy. Scott Yeah, I’ve got the video. I just got confused with the “90-degree hook” thing. In the video, the only “degree” JC mentions concerning rails is the 30-degree cut for the Fred tool. I’m gonna go back and review that section though. I’m sure I missed something. And I’m definitely going to try the string trick. Thanks!
Peter, you can always post a photo to the board showcase in the “diagram” or “other” categories. Just put question marks (???) into the fields that make no sense.>>> Check, the marking rails when shaping, on this site, work from line to > line then use sandpaper to finish (looooooong stokes always). Good luck.>>> Peter Rijk.
i’ve seen a certain tool at hardware stores that are basically a row of small wire rods (i’m talking very small) that are used for measuring something. anyway, they work great for achieving perfect rail symmetry. you can press this guy into one rail and the tiny rods will get pushed back so you’re left with a perfect rail template that you can use on the other side of the board.
i’ve seen a certain tool at hardware stores that are basically a row of > small wire rods (i’m talking very small) that are used for measuring > something. anyway, they work great for achieving perfect rail symmetry. > you can press this guy into one rail and the tiny rods will get pushed > back so you’re left with a perfect rail template that you can use on the > other side of the board. can you tell me more about this tool? what about gluing tongue depressors together to get the contours?
Yeah, I’ve got the video. I just got confused with the “90-degree > hook” thing. In the video, the only “degree” JC mentions > concerning rails is the 30-degree cut for the Fred tool. I’m gonna go back > and review that section though. I’m sure I missed something. And I’m > definitely going to try the string trick. Thanks! Deeb, I’m thinkin he has a compass(L shaped) sort of thing that has a foot that slides over the deck, while the other part(attached at a 90 degree angle) puts a line down the planshape edge. I saw somthing like that at a glasser, they used it for pin lines and marking for cut-lap glass jobs. I hope this helps, Scott.
the tool is called a contour guage. It can be helpful, but Jesse Fernandez at WRV showed me a tool which was shown to him by Ricky Carroll of Local Motion. The magic tool is like the one use in the earlier response about what the airbrusher uses to make pin lines etc. I’ve used it and will continue to use it. It does wonders for most rail shapes except the 50/50.
the tool is called a contour guage. It can be helpful, but Jesse Fernandez > at WRV showed me a tool which was shown to him by Ricky Carroll of Local > Motion.>>> The magic tool is like the one use in the earlier response about what the > airbrusher uses to make pin lines etc. I’ve used it and will continue to > use it. It does wonders for most rail shapes except the 50/50. what is it?
Let me try to explain, What it is, is a piece of flat material ( you can use plywood or something) with holes in it every half inch, this piece is glued to another one so that it makes a 90 degree hook. Sliding this alongside the rails of the blank with the marker pointed thru one of the holes makes a parallel line on the blank. Draw lines on the deck and the sides, then shape from deckline to sideline, what you have is a flat/ square edged parallel line, from this stage on you use sandpaper, again long strokes only. I’ts hard to explain how I do this,and in fact it’s vey simple, you can’t go wrong with this, it’s perfect for a starting shaper, and I have used it a lot. If you’re not sure how , give me a faxnumber so I can fax a drawing for you. Good luck. Peter Rijk>>> Deeb, I’m thinkin he has a compass(L shaped) sort of thing that has a foot > that slides over the deck, while the other part(attached at a 90 degree > angle) puts a line down the planshape edge. I saw somthing like that at a > glasser, they used it for pin lines and marking for cut-lap glass jobs. I > hope this helps, Scott.
Let me try to explain, What it is, is a piece of flat material ( you can > use plywood or something) with holes in it every half inch, this piece is > glued to another one so that it makes a 90 degree hook. Sliding this > alongside the rails of the blank with the marker pointed thru one of the > holes makes a parallel line on the blank. Draw lines on the deck and the > sides, then shape from deckline to sideline, what you have is a flat/ > square edged parallel line, from this stage on you use sandpaper, again > long strokes only.>>> I’ts hard to explain how I do this,and in fact it’s vey simple, you can’t > go wrong with this, it’s perfect for a starting shaper, and I have used it > a lot.>>> If you’re not sure how , give me a faxnumber so I can fax a drawing for > you.>>> Good luck.>>> Peter Rijk peter – i think i “kinda” know what you are describing, but a picture is worth a thousand words…here is my fax: 516.546.1509 thanks, tim
Peter, Could you please fax me a copy also…I am just starting myself. I would really appreciate it Fax: 619-524-9694 Thanx tons!!! Marc>>> Let me try to explain, What it is, is a piece of flat material ( you can > use plywood or something) with holes in it every half inch, this piece is > glued to another one so that it makes a 90 degree hook. Sliding this > alongside the rails of the blank with the marker pointed thru one of the > holes makes a parallel line on the blank. Draw lines on the deck and the > sides, then shape from deckline to sideline, what you have is a flat/ > square edged parallel line, from this stage on you use sandpaper, again > long strokes only.>>> I’ts hard to explain how I do this,and in fact it’s vey simple, you can’t > go wrong with this, it’s perfect for a starting shaper, and I have used it > a lot.>>> If you’re not sure how , give me a faxnumber so I can fax a drawing for > you.>>> Good luck.>>> Peter Rijk
Peter, If it is not too much trouble could you please include me in the distrubution list??? Thanks Chris 954-337-0317
I’m gonna try to scan the drawings tomorrow morning and send these to the showcase. Could reach a few faxes, but sometimes it didn’t work, sorry guys. Peter Rijk>>> Peter, you can always post a photo to the board showcase in the > “diagram” or “other” categories. Just put question > marks (???) into the fields that make no sense.
what is it? It’s a carpenters square with a metal ruler which slides within the square. But you must drill a hole in the end of the rule so you can attach a pencil. The best tool around for under $10.00.
It’s a carpenters square with a metal ruler which slides within the > square. But you must drill a hole in the end of the rule so you can attach > a pencil. The best tool around for under $10.00. I totally agree and have used the tools described (contour gauge can be tricky if you don’t hold it right). I found that practicing “getting a feel for symetry” really helps. When first starting I spent countless hours looking at rails on finished boards trying to get an eye for them. I also went to an experienced shaper (Jeff Bushman) and spent a lot of time looking at his finished boards (pre-glass). It really helps to develop that skill. Not knocking the tools that are out there to help because it is hard to get symetrical rails.